TCU and Kansas will be playing to stay atop the Big 12 when they meet Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Jayhawks are 5-0 for the first time since 2009, when they went on to lose their last seven games. The Horned Frogs are coming off a blowout of Oklahoma. The last time Kansas won its first six was 2007, when it went 12-1 and won the Orange Bowl. The Horned Frogs have not won their first five since 2017, when they started 7-0 before finishing 11-3 with a win in the Alamo Bowl.

NO. 17 TCU (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) at No. 19 Kansas (5-0, 2-0), Saturday, 1 p.m. ET (FS1)

Line: TCU by 7, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

TCU and Kansas will be playing to stay atop the Big 12 when they meet Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Who would have thought that would be the case before the season? The Jayhawks are 5-0 for the first time since 2009, when they went on to lose their last seven games, while the Horned Frogs are coming off a blowout of Oklahoma. The last time Kansas won its first six was 2007, when it went 12-1 and won the Orange Bowl. The Horned Frogs have not won their first five since 2017, when they started 7-0 before finishing 11-3 with a win in the Alamo Bowl.

TCU quarterback Max Duggan against Kansas counterpart Jalon Daniels. Sure, the two won't match up in the literal sense, but the team that wins will probably be the one that gets better quarterback play. Duggan leads the nation in pass efficiency and is third in completion percentage at 74.5, and he's thrown 11 touchdown passes without an interception. Daniels has thrown for 983 yards with 11 touchdowns and one pick while rushing for a team-best 335 yards and five more scores.

TCU: RB Kendre Miller leads active Power 5 players at 7.43 yards per carry for his career, and he did nothing to hurt those numbers against Oklahoma. Miller carried 13 times for 136 yards with TD runs of 15 and 69 yards in the 55-24 romp. Kansas limited Iowa State to 26 yards on the ground last week.

Kansas: RB Devin Neal will take on additional work after the Jayhawks lost running mate Daniel Hishaw to an injury against the Cyclones. Neal carried 12 times for 72 yards against the Cyclones while surpassing 1,000 yards for his career.

TCU has won nine of 10 games against Kansas as members of the Big 12. The Horned Frogs won 31-28 on a 25-yard field goal in the closing seconds last season. ... The last time the Horned Frogs were 4-0, current coach Sonny Dykes was on staff as an offensive analyst. Dykes is the first TCU coach to win his opening four games since Francis Schmidt in 1929. ... TCU has not trailed since the first 24 seconds of the second quarter of its opener against Colorado. ... The Horned Frogs are second nationally in scoring (48.5 points per game) and total offense (549.5 yards per game). ... TCU had four TDs of at least 62 yards in its win over Oklahoma. ... Kansas has not beaten a ranked team since No. 15 Georgia Tech in 2010. It has not beaten a ranked conference opponent since No. 12 Missouri in 2008. ... The Jayhawks have not beaten a ranked opponent at home while also ranked since Nov. 24, 1973 (No. 19 Missouri 14-13). ... The Jayhawks have allowed two sacks this season. ... Kansas tops the Big 12 in red zone defense.

TCU and Kansas will be playing to stay atop the Big 12 when they meet Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The Jayhawks are 5-0 for the first time since 2009, when they went on to lose their last seven games. The Horned Frogs are coming off a blowout of Oklahoma. The last time Kansas won its first six was 2007, when it went 12-1 and won the Orange Bowl. The Horned Frogs have not won their first five since 2017, when they started 7-0 before finishing 11-3 with a win in the Alamo Bowl.NO. 17 TCU (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) at No. 19 Kansas (5-0, 2-0), Saturday, 1 p.m. ET (FS1)Line: TCU by 7, according to FanDuel Sportsbook.Series record: TCU leads 25-9-4.WHAT’S AT STAKE?TCU and Kansas will be playing to stay atop the Big 12 when they meet Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Who would have thought that would be the case before the season? The Jayhawks are 5-0 for the first time since 2009, when they went on to lose their last seven games, while the Horned Frogs are coming off a blowout of Oklahoma. The last time Kansas won its first six was 2007, when it went 12-1 and won the Orange Bowl. The Horned Frogs have not won their first five since 2017, when they started 7-0 before finishing 11-3 with a win in the Alamo Bowl.KEY MATCHUPTCU quarterback Max Duggan against Kansas counterpart Jalon Daniels. Sure, the two won't match up in the literal sense, but the team that wins will probably be the one that gets better quarterback play. Duggan leads the nation in pass efficiency and is third in completion percentage at 74.5, and he's thrown 11 touchdown passes without an interception. Daniels has thrown for 983 yards with 11 touchdowns and one pick while rushing for a team-best 335 yards and five more scores.PLAYERS TO WATCHTCU: RB Kendre Miller leads active Power 5 players at 7.43 yards per carry for his career, and he did nothing to hurt those numbers against Oklahoma. Miller carried 13 times for 136 yards with TD runs of 15 and 69 yards in the 55-24 romp. Kansas limited Iowa State to 26 yards on the ground last week.Kansas: RB Devin Neal will take on additional work after the Jayhawks lost running mate Daniel Hishaw to an injury against the Cyclones. Neal carried 12 times for 72 yards against the Cyclones while surpassing 1,000 yards for his career.FACTS &amp; FIGURESTCU has won nine of 10 games against Kansas as members of the Big 12. The Horned Frogs won 31-28 on a 25-yard field goal in the closing seconds last season. ... The last time the Horned Frogs were 4-0, current coach Sonny Dykes was on staff as an offensive analyst. Dykes is the first TCU coach to win his opening four games since Francis Schmidt in 1929. ... TCU has not trailed since the first 24 seconds of the second quarter of its opener against Colorado. ... The Horned Frogs are second nationally in scoring (48.5 points per game) and total offense (549.5 yards per game). ... TCU had four TDs of at least 62 yards in its win over Oklahoma. ... Kansas has not beaten a ranked team since No. 15 Georgia Tech in 2010. It has not beaten a ranked conference opponent since No. 12 Missouri in 2008. ... The Jayhawks have not beaten a ranked opponent at home while also ranked since Nov. 24, 1973 (No. 19 Missouri 14-13). ... The Jayhawks have allowed two sacks this season. ... Kansas tops the Big 12 in red zone defense.

No. 17 TCU heads to No. 19 Kansas for showdown of unbeatens

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — New president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo wasted no time putting his thumb print on the Kansas City Royals, firing manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred just hours after the end of another dismal season.

Now, the pressure is on Picollo to chart a new course for the franchise.

“When you make a decision like this, we’re looking forward to the future,” Picollo said Thursday, one day after letting Matheny and Eldred go. “We are looking to what’s next, who we can put around our players that is innovative and exciting.”

The Royals were anything but exciting this season.

Sure, there were bright spots in AL Rookie of the Year candidate Bobby Witt Jr., breakout ace Brady Singer and a wave of talented young players who made big league debuts. But it wasn't enough to energize an increasingly frustrated fan base that watched the Royals finish off a 65-97 season with a lackluster 9-2 loss in Cleveland.

Picollo's decision to fire Matheny and Eldred upon the club's return to Kansas City was expected, especially given John Sherman's promise last month that changes were coming to the organization he purchased three years ago.

“Mike understood where we were,” said Picollo, who took over the baseball operations department when Sherman fired longtime executive Dayton Moore last month. “I'm going to try to avoid the word ‘expectations’ as much as I can, but we did have some expectations, and when you look at our record at the end of the season, something went wrong. We didn't win as many games as we should have.”

Picollo did not provide a timetable for hiring a new manager, though he promised to cast a wide net in the search. And while he also did not mention specific candidates, Picollo did describe the type of leader he wants for an organization that has relied on decidedly old-school managers in Ned Yost and Matheny for more than a decade: creative, data-driven and focused on utilizing everything from performance science to cutting-edge behavioral analysis.

“I do think the managerial position has changed,” Picollo said. “You talk to players around the league, executives — there are things teams are doing that are pretty advanced. Our goal is to find out what those things are and implement them here.”

Picollo said bench coach Pedro Grifol and third base coach Vance Wilson will be considered for the job. He also said the hitting department led by Alec Zumwalt, assistant hitting coach Keoni De Renne and special assignment coach Mike Tosar would remain largely intact, regardless of whom the Royals hire to manage the club.

As for a new pitching coach, Picollo plans to give his new skipper some influence in the decision.

“We have work to do,” Picollo said, “but we do have a good core. I'd think there's a pitching coach and manager out there that would be excited to see what our staff and what our roster will look like.”

Witt hit .254 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs while stealing 30 bases. Rookie catcher MJ Melendez struggled with contact but hit 18 homers when he did. Vinnie Pasquantino may have been the biggest surprise if only because so little was expected of the rookie first baseman, who merely hit .295 with 10 homers and 26 RBIs in 72 games.

Singer and Scott Barlow were the class of the pitching staff all season. Singer went 10-5 with a 3.23 ERA after overcoming some early troubles with a trip to the minors, while Barlow was 7-4 with a 2.18 ERA and 24 saves in 69 appearances.

Hunter Dozier still has two years and more than $16 million left on his four-year contract, though his future as an everyday player is bleak after hitting just .236 in 128 games. The Royals have too many young players with upside — Kyle Isbel, Nate Eaton and Drew Waters among them — to waste a lineup spot on a career .240 hitter.

The Royals could have more young talent on the way next season. Former first-round pick Nick Loftin and fellow outfielder Tyler Gentry could arrive at some point, while left-hander Asa Lacy — another former first-rounder — and pitchers Jonathan Bowlan and Alec Marsh are reaching make-or-break points in their development.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — New president of baseball operations J.J. Picollo wasted no time putting his thumb print on the Kansas City Royals, firing manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred just hours after the end of another dismal season.Now, the pressure is on Picollo to chart a new course for the franchise.“When you make a decision like this, we’re looking forward to the future,” Picollo said Thursday, one day after letting Matheny and Eldred go. “We are looking to what’s next, who we can put around our players that is innovative and exciting.”The Royals were anything but exciting this season.Sure, there were bright spots in AL Rookie of the Year candidate Bobby Witt Jr., breakout ace Brady Singer and a wave of talented young players who made big league debuts. But it wasn't enough to energize an increasingly frustrated fan base that watched the Royals finish off a 65-97 season with a lackluster 9-2 loss in Cleveland.Picollo's decision to fire Matheny and Eldred upon the club's return to Kansas City was expected, especially given John Sherman's promise last month that changes were coming to the organization he purchased three years ago.“Mike understood where we were,” said Picollo, who took over the baseball operations department when Sherman fired longtime executive Dayton Moore last month. “I'm going to try to avoid the word ‘expectations’ as much as I can, but we did have some expectations, and when you look at our record at the end of the season, something went wrong. We didn't win as many games as we should have.”Picollo did not provide a timetable for hiring a new manager, though he promised to cast a wide net in the search. And while he also did not mention specific candidates, Picollo did describe the type of leader he wants for an organization that has relied on decidedly old-school managers in Ned Yost and Matheny for more than a decade: creative, data-driven and focused on utilizing everything from performance science to cutting-edge behavioral analysis.“I do think the managerial position has changed,” Picollo said. “You talk to players around the league, executives — there are things teams are doing that are pretty advanced. Our goal is to find out what those things are and implement them here.”Picollo said bench coach Pedro Grifol and third base coach Vance Wilson will be considered for the job. He also said the hitting department led by Alec Zumwalt, assistant hitting coach Keoni De Renne and special assignment coach Mike Tosar would remain largely intact, regardless of whom the Royals hire to manage the club.As for a new pitching coach, Picollo plans to give his new skipper some influence in the decision.“We have work to do,” Picollo said, “but we do have a good core. I'd think there's a pitching coach and manager out there that would be excited to see what our staff and what our roster will look like.”BRIGHT SPOTS, PART IWitt hit .254 with 20 homers and 80 RBIs while stealing 30 bases. Rookie catcher MJ Melendez struggled with contact but hit 18 homers when he did. Vinnie Pasquantino may have been the biggest surprise if only because so little was expected of the rookie first baseman, who merely hit .295 with 10 homers and 26 RBIs in 72 games.BRIGHT SPOTS, PART IISinger and Scott Barlow were the class of the pitching staff all season. Singer went 10-5 with a 3.23 ERA after overcoming some early troubles with a trip to the minors, while Barlow was 7-4 with a 2.18 ERA and 24 saves in 69 appearances.LOW LIGHTSHunter Dozier still has two years and more than $16 million left on his four-year contract, though his future as an everyday player is bleak after hitting just .236 in 128 games. The Royals have too many young players with upside — Kyle Isbel, Nate Eaton and Drew Waters among them — to waste a lineup spot on a career .240 hitter.HELP ON THE WAYThe Royals could have more young talent on the way next season. Former first-round pick Nick Loftin and fellow outfielder Tyler Gentry could arrive at some point, while left-hander Asa Lacy — another former first-rounder — and pitchers Jonathan Bowlan and Alec Marsh are reaching make-or-break points in their development.

Royals begin manager search as Picollo charts new course

IOWA CITY — <a href="https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-basketball/iowa-commit-ava-jones-not-expected-to-play-basketball-again-after-serious-injuries-from-july-crash/">The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports</a> that University of Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder told&nbsp;the university’s Presidential Committee on Athletics on Thursday that she received a call the day before about the condition of Nickerson High star and Iowa commit Ava Jones.

Bluder told the committee that new MRI scans showed that Ava had torn all four major ligaments in both of her knees — ACL, MCL, PCL, and LCL.&nbsp;

Such injuries are likely to prevent Jones from playing again, according to Bluder.

Jones and her family were hit by a car July 5 while in Louisville, Kentucky for an AAU basketball tournament. Her father Trey, died from his injuries and her mother and brother were also hit.

The man police say admitted to taking hydrocodone before hitting the Jones family has pled not guilty in the case.&nbsp;Thirty-three-year-old Michael Hurley&nbsp;was already on probation for drug possession and drug use in Indiana at the time of the crash.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657310781672.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>IOWA CITY — <a href="https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-basketball/iowa-commit-ava-jones-not-expected-to-play-basketball-again-after-serious-injuries-from-july-crash/">The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports</a> that University of Iowa Hawkeyes women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder told&nbsp;the university’s Presidential Committee on Athletics on Thursday that she received a call the day before about the condition of Nickerson High star and Iowa commit Ava Jones.Bluder told the committee that new MRI scans showed that Ava had torn all four major ligaments in both of her knees — ACL, MCL, PCL, and LCL.&nbsp;Such injuries are likely to prevent Jones from playing again, according to Bluder.Jones and her family were hit by a car July 5 while in Louisville, Kentucky for an AAU basketball tournament. Her father Trey, died from his injuries and her mother and brother were also hit.The man police say admitted to taking hydrocodone before hitting the Jones family has pled not guilty in the case.&nbsp;Thirty-three-year-old Michael Hurley&nbsp;was already on probation for drug possession and drug use in Indiana at the time of the crash.

🏀 Iowa coach says Ava Jones will likely not play basketball again

The Kansas City Chiefs could be missing kicker Harrison Butker for the fourth consecutive game because of swelling that won't abate in the left ankle that he sprained in the opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Chiefs used Matt Ammendola as a fill-in for Butker for the first two games of his absence, but he was released after missing a field goal and an extra point against Indianapolis.

Matthew Wright was signed as insurance last week and was perfect on extra points while hitting both of his field goals in a win at Tampa Bay.

“Normally the sprained ankles don't last,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Thursday, “but he's got some swelling in there that he's just got to get out, and that's where we're at right now. It's not that he doesn't want to play. He wants to get out there.”

Butker kicked sparingly last week, but was sore afterward, and the Chiefs played it safe by using Wright in their game at Tampa Bay. He hasn't kicked at all as they prepare to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night.

In other injury news, first-round pick Trent McDuffie appears close to returning from the hamstring injury that he sustained in Week 1. The defensive back has been on injured reserve and is eligible to return after this week's game.

“He's doing great,” Reid said. "I think he'll get back in there maybe next week."

The Chiefs also have tight end Blake Bell on injured reserve, though he doesn't appear to be close to returning after surgery for a hip injury.

Right tackle Lucas Niang, who has been on the physically unable to perform list, has been taking some steps toward returning, though Reid said that “he's close but not quite there yet.”

Defensive end Mike Danna could return Monday night after missing the past two games with a calf injury.

Meanwhile, Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. returned to the facility for the first time since the NFL gave him a four-game suspension for an off-the-field altercation earlier this year. He still must sit two more games, but league rules allow him to return to the practice facility after the first two weeks of the suspension.

“Back in,” Reid said. “He's doing good. Looks like he's working out.”

The Kansas City Chiefs could be missing kicker Harrison Butker for the fourth consecutive game because of swelling that won't abate in the left ankle that he sprained in the opener against the Arizona Cardinals.The Chiefs used Matt Ammendola as a fill-in for Butker for the first two games of his absence, but he was released after missing a field goal and an extra point against Indianapolis.Matthew Wright was signed as insurance last week and was perfect on extra points while hitting both of his field goals in a win at Tampa Bay.“Normally the sprained ankles don't last,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Thursday, “but he's got some swelling in there that he's just got to get out, and that's where we're at right now. It's not that he doesn't want to play. He wants to get out there.”Butker kicked sparingly last week, but was sore afterward, and the Chiefs played it safe by using Wright in their game at Tampa Bay. He hasn't kicked at all as they prepare to face the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday night.In other injury news, first-round pick Trent McDuffie appears close to returning from the hamstring injury that he sustained in Week 1. The defensive back has been on injured reserve and is eligible to return after this week's game.“He's doing great,” Reid said. "I think he'll get back in there maybe next week."The Chiefs also have tight end Blake Bell on injured reserve, though he doesn't appear to be close to returning after surgery for a hip injury.Right tackle Lucas Niang, who has been on the physically unable to perform list, has been taking some steps toward returning, though Reid said that “he's close but not quite there yet.”Defensive end Mike Danna could return Monday night after missing the past two games with a calf injury.Meanwhile, Chiefs linebacker Willie Gay Jr. returned to the facility for the first time since the NFL gave him a four-game suspension for an off-the-field altercation earlier this year. He still must sit two more games, but league rules allow him to return to the practice facility after the first two weeks of the suspension.“Back in,” Reid said. “He's doing good. Looks like he's working out.”

Chiefs could miss Harrison Butker for fourth straight game

DENVER (AP) — Matt Ryan kept the faith through all the sacks, interceptions, fumbles and three-and-outs that made for a streaming snooze-fest Thursday night.

“It was just kind of a slog of a game,” the Indianapolis quarterback said after Stephon Gilmore batted away Russell Wilson’s pass to Courtland Sutton in the end zone on fourth-and-1 from the 5 to give the Colts a 12-9 overtime victory over the Denver Broncos.

The game featured seven field goals, a dozen punts, 25 third-down stops, four interceptions and six fumbles — none of which were recovered by the otherwise disruptive defenses.

“Our defense played lights out,” said Ryan, who emerged victorious despite getting sacked six times, giving him 21 so far this season, throwing a pair of interceptions to Caden Sterns and fumbling for the 10th time this season.

“We need to play better for sure, but I'm proud of the guys,” Ryan said. “Wins are what we need. We're right in the mix. ... I thought the two drives at the end showed a lot of guys. You just keep battling — and it helps when your defense is shutting them down, too.”

Gilmore also intercepted Wilson's pass just before the 2-minute mark of the fourth quarter to set up Chase McLaughlin's tying field goal with 5 seconds left.

“That’s the definition of a big-time player making big plays in the moment," Colts coach Frank Reich said about Gilmore. "Isn’t it awesome you can have a game like that and still win?"

McLauglin connected from 47 yards 4:10 into overtime to give the Colts (2-2-1) the lead in the first game in NFL history that pitted quarterbacks with at least four Pro Bowl appearances each yet featured zero touchdowns.

The Broncos (2-3) decided against a tying chip-shot field goal by Brandon McManus or even a first-down play on fourth-and-less-and-a-yard from the 5, and Wilson lined up in the shotgun next to running back Melvin Gordon, then threw incomplete over the middle.

“We wanted to win the game,” Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said. “We hadn't moved the ball very well the whole night and I thought we had a spectacular drive to get all the way down there.”

Wide open and uncovered — but unseen by Wilson — was KJ Hamler, who tore off his helmet and slammed it to the ground after Wilson's final pass was batted away, sending the Broncos and their awful offense to their second loss in four days.

“There's going to be a bunch of what-ifs,” Broncos guard Dalton Risner said. “You know what, if we score that touchdown, everyone thinks it's the best call in the world.”

McLaughlin sent it to overtime with a 31-yarder after Gilmore intercepted Wilson's pass to Tyrie Cleveland in the end zone on third-and-4 from the 13.

“Just can't throw that,” lamented Wilson. "Got to throw it out of bounds if it's not there.”

Wilson was sacked four times and picked off twice. His four TD throws through five games marks the worst start of his 11-year career and he hasn't looked anything like the Broncos expected after giving him a $245 million contract extension before his first snap for Denver.

“It's very simple: at the end of the day I got to be better," Wilson said. “I got to play better. I let the team down tonight. One thing I know about myself is I'm going to respond.”

The game pitted veteran quarterbacks struggling with their new teams. It looked like neither team practiced much during the week because neither team did as they worked in new running backs and key defensive replacements on a short work week.

And as is common on Thursday nights, there was a rash of injuries with the most serious to Indy’s Kwity Payne (leg) and Denver’s Garett Bolles (right knee), both of whom were carted off.

With reigning NFL champion Jonathan Taylor (ankle, toe) out for Indy and the Broncos lamenting the loss of Javonte Williams to a shredded right knee, the grind-it-out nature of the game was entirely expected.

The Colts came in averaging 14.3 points, the lowest in Ryan’s 16-year career, and the Broncos entered the night averaging 16.5 points, the worst in Wilson’s 11-year career.

Nyheim Hines got the start for Indy, but he went out with a head injury after his third snap when D.J. Jones knocked him down and Hines’ helmet bounced on the ground. He wobbled as he tried to leave the field on his own and had to be guided to the sideline, where he was evaluated for a concussion.

Many fans were wondering if this game would be one of revenge — Phillip Lindsay returning to his hometown to beat the Broncos — or redemption — Gordon atoning for his big fumble Sunday that was returned 68 yards for a touchdown by the Raiders.

Lindsay ran for 40 yards on 11 carries ad Gordon had 54 yards on 15 carries, and he was flipped by safety Rodney McLoyd Jr. at the 6 on his way to the end zone when it appeared he had an open path to the winning touchdown.

While McLaughlin was good from 52, 51, 31 and 48 yards, Brandon McManus was good from 33, 44 and 45 yards but his 34-yard attempt was blocked by Grover Stewart in the third quarter.

Paye was injured on Rodney Thomas II’s 35-yard interception return. Starting C Ryan Kelly (hip) and WR Austin Dulin (foot) also got hurt.

The Broncos lost two starting defenders to knee injuries just before halftime, ILB Josey Jewell and CB Ronald Darby. DE Dre’Mont Jones (head) and LB Baron Browning (wrist) got hurt in the second half as did Bolles.

The Colts host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Oct. 16, and the Broncos visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night, Oct. 17.

DENVER (AP) — Matt Ryan kept the faith through all the sacks, interceptions, fumbles and three-and-outs that made for a streaming snooze-fest Thursday night.“It was just kind of a slog of a game,” the Indianapolis quarterback said after Stephon Gilmore batted away Russell Wilson’s pass to Courtland Sutton in the end zone on fourth-and-1 from the 5 to give the Colts a 12-9 overtime victory over the Denver Broncos.The game featured seven field goals, a dozen punts, 25 third-down stops, four interceptions and six fumbles — none of which were recovered by the otherwise disruptive defenses.“Our defense played lights out,” said Ryan, who emerged victorious despite getting sacked six times, giving him 21 so far this season, throwing a pair of interceptions to Caden Sterns and fumbling for the 10th time this season.“We need to play better for sure, but I'm proud of the guys,” Ryan said. “Wins are what we need. We're right in the mix. ... I thought the two drives at the end showed a lot of guys. You just keep battling — and it helps when your defense is shutting them down, too.”Gilmore also intercepted Wilson's pass just before the 2-minute mark of the fourth quarter to set up Chase McLaughlin's tying field goal with 5 seconds left.“That’s the definition of a big-time player making big plays in the moment," Colts coach Frank Reich said about Gilmore. "Isn’t it awesome you can have a game like that and still win?"McLauglin connected from 47 yards 4:10 into overtime to give the Colts (2-2-1) the lead in the first game in NFL history that pitted quarterbacks with at least four Pro Bowl appearances each yet featured zero touchdowns.The Broncos (2-3) decided against a tying chip-shot field goal by Brandon McManus or even a first-down play on fourth-and-less-and-a-yard from the 5, and Wilson lined up in the shotgun next to running back Melvin Gordon, then threw incomplete over the middle.“We wanted to win the game,” Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said. “We hadn't moved the ball very well the whole night and I thought we had a spectacular drive to get all the way down there.”Wide open and uncovered — but unseen by Wilson — was KJ Hamler, who tore off his helmet and slammed it to the ground after Wilson's final pass was batted away, sending the Broncos and their awful offense to their second loss in four days.“There's going to be a bunch of what-ifs,” Broncos guard Dalton Risner said. “You know what, if we score that touchdown, everyone thinks it's the best call in the world.”McLaughlin sent it to overtime with a 31-yarder after Gilmore intercepted Wilson's pass to Tyrie Cleveland in the end zone on third-and-4 from the 13.“Just can't throw that,” lamented Wilson. "Got to throw it out of bounds if it's not there.”Wilson was sacked four times and picked off twice. His four TD throws through five games marks the worst start of his 11-year career and he hasn't looked anything like the Broncos expected after giving him a $245 million contract extension before his first snap for Denver.“It's very simple: at the end of the day I got to be better," Wilson said. “I got to play better. I let the team down tonight. One thing I know about myself is I'm going to respond.”The game pitted veteran quarterbacks struggling with their new teams. It looked like neither team practiced much during the week because neither team did as they worked in new running backs and key defensive replacements on a short work week.And as is common on Thursday nights, there was a rash of injuries with the most serious to Indy’s Kwity Payne (leg) and Denver’s Garett Bolles (right knee), both of whom were carted off.With reigning NFL champion Jonathan Taylor (ankle, toe) out for Indy and the Broncos lamenting the loss of Javonte Williams to a shredded right knee, the grind-it-out nature of the game was entirely expected.The Colts came in averaging 14.3 points, the lowest in Ryan’s 16-year career, and the Broncos entered the night averaging 16.5 points, the worst in Wilson’s 11-year career.Nyheim Hines got the start for Indy, but he went out with a head injury after his third snap when D.J. Jones knocked him down and Hines’ helmet bounced on the ground. He wobbled as he tried to leave the field on his own and had to be guided to the sideline, where he was evaluated for a concussion.REVENGE OR REDEMPTIONMany fans were wondering if this game would be one of revenge — Phillip Lindsay returning to his hometown to beat the Broncos — or redemption — Gordon atoning for his big fumble Sunday that was returned 68 yards for a touchdown by the Raiders.It turned out to be neither.Lindsay ran for 40 yards on 11 carries ad Gordon had 54 yards on 15 carries, and he was flipped by safety Rodney McLoyd Jr. at the 6 on his way to the end zone when it appeared he had an open path to the winning touchdown.KICKING HIMSELFWhile McLaughlin was good from 52, 51, 31 and 48 yards, Brandon McManus was good from 33, 44 and 45 yards but his 34-yard attempt was blocked by Grover Stewart in the third quarter.INJURIESPaye was injured on Rodney Thomas II’s 35-yard interception return. Starting C Ryan Kelly (hip) and WR Austin Dulin (foot) also got hurt.The Broncos lost two starting defenders to knee injuries just before halftime, ILB Josey Jewell and CB Ronald Darby. DE Dre’Mont Jones (head) and LB Baron Browning (wrist) got hurt in the second half as did Bolles.UP NEXTThe Colts host the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Oct. 16, and the Broncos visit the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night, Oct. 17.

Colts grind out 12-9 win over Broncos in injury-filled game

UNDATED (AP) — The second Saturday of October has a different focus in the Big 12 this season. The big game is No. 17 TCU at No. 19 Kansas in an unexpected matchup of undefeated teams. Texas and Oklahoma play their annual game at the State Fair of Texas with both teams unranked for the first time since 1998. Iowa State’s Big 12-best defense faces against No. 20 Kansas State with Big 12 rushing leader Deuce Vaughn and dual-threat quarterback Adrian Martinez. Texas Tech plays at seventh-ranked Oklahoma State. Baylor and West Virginia have open dates before playing the following Thursday.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Sonny Dykes has built winning programs all over the country, from Louisiana Tech to California to SMU and now TCU. He has the Horned Frogs unbeaten through four games and ranked in the Top 25. So if anybody can appreciate the job that Lance Leipold has done at Kansas, it’s probably him. The two coaches will face each other Saturday in a matchup of perhaps the two biggest surprises of the season. The Horned Frogs are ranked No. 17 while the Jayhawks are No. 19. The game is a sellout, the third consecutive one for Kansas at Memorial Stadium.

UNDATED (AP) — Oklahoma State got off to a good start in Big 12 play with a 36-25 victory at then-No. 16 Baylor. The seventh-ranked Cowboys are positioned for a run at a playoff spot, and quarterback Spencer Sanders could become a more prominent part of the Heisman Trophy conversation if he continues to perform well. Both possibilities would take a hit with a loss to Texas Tech on Saturday. Tech, which already has wins over ranked opponents Houston and Texas this season, could crack the Top 25 with a victory.

The Kansas City Chiefs could be missing kicker Harrison Butker for the fourth consecutive game because of swelling that won’t abate in the left ankle that he sprained in the opener against the Arizona Cardinals. They would use Matthew Wright for the second consecutive week on Monday night against the Las Vegas Raiders. First-round pick Trent McDuffie also appears close to returning from the hamstring injury that he sustained in Week 1. The defensive back has been on injured reserve and is eligible to return after this week’s game.

DENVER (AP) — Stephon Gilmore batted away Russell Wilson’s pass to Courtland Sutton in the end zone on fourth-and-1 from the 5 to give the Indianapolis Colts a 12-9 overtime victory over the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. Gilmore also intercepted Wilson’s pass in the fourth quarter to help set up Chase McLauglin’s tying field goal. McLauglin connected from 47 yards 4:10 into overtime to give the Colts (2-2-1) the lead in the first game in NFL history that pitted quarterbacks with at least four Pro Bowl appearances each, but it featured zero touchdowns. The Broncos (2-3) decided against a tying chip-shot field goal by Brandon McManus, and Wilson lined up in the shotgun next to running back Melvin Gordon, then threw incomplete over the middle.

FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Cooper Rush just keeps on winning as Dak Prescott's injury replacement at quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Rush shrugs off his penchant for victories, saying QB wins are team wins. Rush is 3-0 this season after Prescott fractured his right thumb and 4-0 for his career. One of the victories this season came against defending AFC champion Cincinnati. Rush's fifth career start is Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Phillies and Cardinals are set to play a best-of-three National League wild-card series at Busch Stadium beginning Friday. The two teams last met in the playoffs in 2011. That series went five games and the Cardinals won 1-0 on the way to a World Series title. Philadelphia has turned things around under Rob Thomson, who replaced Joe Girardi as manager in June. The Cardinals are riding the star power of Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt along with the veteran experience of Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright.

NEW YORK (AP) — Higher velocity and increased shifts led to the major league batting average dropping to .243, its lowest since 1968. Defensive shifts and 100 mph pitches set records this season, contributing to the worrisome offensive drop Major League Baseball is trying to address. When the average dropped this low more than a half-century ago, MLB lowered the pitcher’s mound. Next year’s rules changes announced last month include the first restriction on shifts, a decision made over the objection of the players’ association.

UNDATED (AP) — Major League Baseball wasn’t able to coax fans to ballparks at pre-pandemic levels this season, though attendance did jump substantially from the COVID-19 affected campaign in 2021. The 30 MLB teams drew 64.6 million fans for the regular season that ended Wednesday, which is up from the 45.3 million who attended games last season. This year’s numbers are still down from the 68.5 million who attended games in 2019, which was the last season that wasn’t affected by the pandemic. The Los Angeles Dodgers led baseball with an average of 47,672 fans flocking to games while the Oakland Athletics drew just 9,849 per game to rank last.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1660210710064.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>UNDATED (AP) — The second Saturday of October has a different focus in the Big 12 this season. The big game is No. 17 TCU at No. 19 Kansas in an unexpected matchup of undefeated teams. Texas and Oklahoma play their annual game at the State Fair of Texas with both teams unranked for the first time since 1998. Iowa State’s Big 12-best defense faces against No. 20 Kansas State with Big 12 rushing leader Deuce Vaughn and dual-threat quarterback Adrian Martinez. Texas Tech plays at seventh-ranked Oklahoma State. Baylor and West Virginia have open dates before playing the following Thursday.LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Sonny Dykes has built winning programs all over the country, from Louisiana Tech to California to SMU and now TCU. He has the Horned Frogs unbeaten through four games and ranked in the Top 25. So if anybody can appreciate the job that Lance Leipold has done at Kansas, it’s probably him. The two coaches will face each other Saturday in a matchup of perhaps the two biggest surprises of the season. The Horned Frogs are ranked No. 17 while the Jayhawks are No. 19. The game is a sellout, the third consecutive one for Kansas at Memorial Stadium.UNDATED (AP) — Oklahoma State got off to a good start in Big 12 play with a 36-25 victory at then-No. 16 Baylor. The seventh-ranked Cowboys are positioned for a run at a playoff spot, and quarterback Spencer Sanders could become a more prominent part of the Heisman Trophy conversation if he continues to perform well. Both possibilities would take a hit with a loss to Texas Tech on Saturday. Tech, which already has wins over ranked opponents Houston and Texas this season, could crack the Top 25 with a victory.The Kansas City Chiefs could be missing kicker Harrison Butker for the fourth consecutive game because of swelling that won’t abate in the left ankle that he sprained in the opener against the Arizona Cardinals. They would use Matthew Wright for the second consecutive week on Monday night against the Las Vegas Raiders. First-round pick Trent McDuffie also appears close to returning from the hamstring injury that he sustained in Week 1. The defensive back has been on injured reserve and is eligible to return after this week’s game.DENVER (AP) — Stephon Gilmore batted away Russell Wilson’s pass to Courtland Sutton in the end zone on fourth-and-1 from the 5 to give the Indianapolis Colts a 12-9 overtime victory over the Denver Broncos on Thursday night. Gilmore also intercepted Wilson’s pass in the fourth quarter to help set up Chase McLauglin’s tying field goal. McLauglin connected from 47 yards 4:10 into overtime to give the Colts (2-2-1) the lead in the first game in NFL history that pitted quarterbacks with at least four Pro Bowl appearances each, but it featured zero touchdowns. The Broncos (2-3) decided against a tying chip-shot field goal by Brandon McManus, and Wilson lined up in the shotgun next to running back Melvin Gordon, then threw incomplete over the middle.FRISCO, Texas (AP) — Cooper Rush just keeps on winning as Dak Prescott's injury replacement at quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys. Rush shrugs off his penchant for victories, saying QB wins are team wins. Rush is 3-0 this season after Prescott fractured his right thumb and 4-0 for his career. One of the victories this season came against defending AFC champion Cincinnati. Rush's fifth career start is Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams.ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Phillies and Cardinals are set to play a best-of-three National League wild-card series at Busch Stadium beginning Friday. The two teams last met in the playoffs in 2011. That series went five games and the Cardinals won 1-0 on the way to a World Series title. Philadelphia has turned things around under Rob Thomson, who replaced Joe Girardi as manager in June. The Cardinals are riding the star power of Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt along with the veteran experience of Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright.NEW YORK (AP) — Higher velocity and increased shifts led to the major league batting average dropping to .243, its lowest since 1968. Defensive shifts and 100 mph pitches set records this season, contributing to the worrisome offensive drop Major League Baseball is trying to address. When the average dropped this low more than a half-century ago, MLB lowered the pitcher’s mound. Next year’s rules changes announced last month include the first restriction on shifts, a decision made over the objection of the players’ association.UNDATED (AP) — Major League Baseball wasn’t able to coax fans to ballparks at pre-pandemic levels this season, though attendance did jump substantially from the COVID-19 affected campaign in 2021. The 30 MLB teams drew 64.6 million fans for the regular season that ended Wednesday, which is up from the 45.3 million who attended games last season. This year’s numbers are still down from the 68.5 million who attended games in 2019, which was the last season that wasn’t affected by the pandemic. The Los Angeles Dodgers led baseball with an average of 47,672 fans flocking to games while the Oakland Athletics drew just 9,849 per game to rank last.

Friday Sports Headlines and scores presented by Barton Community College

9.
Hutchinson-Central Christian 16-7 (10)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574015954003.jpeg" alt="This week’s rankings reflect the new 2022-23 KSHSAA&nbsp;classifications, as well as information that was submitted by Monday, October 3." />
 <figcaption>This week’s rankings reflect the new 2022-23 KSHSAA&nbsp;classifications, as well as information that was submitted by Monday, October 3.</figcaption>
 </figure>Class 6A1. Washburn Rural
20-1 (1)2. Olathe Northwest
18-5 (2)3. Olathe West 21-4
(3)4. Blue Valley 19-6
(4)5. Blue Valley West
15-7 (5)6. Blue Valley
Northwest 17-8 (7)7. Mill Valley 19-6
(8)8. Shawnee Mission
Northwest 19-9 (NR)9. Wichita Northwest
20-3 (10)10. Blue Valley
North 13-8 (6)Class 5A1. St. Thomas
Aquinas 18-2 (1)2. St. James Academy
15-1 (2)3. Maize South 17-2
(3)4. Lansing 22-4 (4)5. Topeka-Seaman
18-4 (6)6. Hutchinson 25-5
(7)7. Bishop Carroll
13-5 (8)8. Andover Central
25-7 (5)9. Blue Valley
Southwest 18-11 (NR)10.
Goddard-Eisenhower 19-7 (9)Class 4A1. Andale 26-0 (1)2. Baldwin 24-1 (2)3. Circle 17-3 (3)4. Bishop Miege 8-14
(4)5. Rock Creek 17-7
(6)6. Paola 15-9 (5)7. Clay Center 16-8
(7)8. Eudora 16-9 (8)9. Tonganoxie 16-12
(9)10. Chanute 17-7
(10)Class 3A1. Nemaha Central
27-1 (1)2. Heritage
Christian 19-7 (2)3. Cheney 23-2 (4)4. Beloit 26-5 (3)5. Riverton 23-1 (5)6. Goodland 20-3 (7)7. Rossville 23-3
(10)8. Eureka 22-1 (8)9. Silver Lake 21-8
(NR)10. Smoky Valley
18-6 (NR)Class 2A1. Hillsboro 23-1
(1)2. Sedgwick 28-0 (2)3. Smith Center 28-2
(3)4. Ellinwood 23-3
(5)5. Inman 24-5 (4)6. Garden Plain 14-5
(6)7. Jackson Heights
20-3 (7)8. Berean Academy
21-6 (9)9. Ell-Saline 23-4
(NR)10. Hoxie 22-6 (10)Class 1A –
Division 11. Spearville 18-2
(3)2. Little River
24-3 (1)3. Pretty Prairie
23-3 (2)4. Doniphan West
20-2 (4)5. South Gray 19-4
(6)6. Sylvan-Lucas 25-2
(5)7. Centralia 21-5
(8)8. St. Francis 21-6
(7)9. Flinthills 25-2
(9)10. Kiowa County
16-6 (10)Class 1A –
Division 21. Attica 25-1 (1)2. Lebo 23-1 (2)3. Hanover 20-5 (3)4. Beloit-St.
John’s/Tipton 20-6 (4)5. St. Paul 24-6 (5)6. Coldwater-South
Central 16-6 (6)7. Greeley County
17-7 (7)8. Southern Coffey
County 16-6 (8)9.
Hutchinson-Central Christian 16-7 (10)10. Ingalls 14-7
(NR)

KVA Announces 2022 Week 5 Volleyball Rankings

Some things to watch in Week 6 of the Big 12 season:

No. 17 TCU at No. 19 Kansas. An unexpected matchup of undefeated teams on the second Saturday in October when the Big 12 is usually focused on the Red River rivalry. Even ESPN's “College GameDay” is going to be on location in Lawrence, Kansas, not at the State Fair of Texas for Texas-Oklahoma.

Second-year Kansas coach Lance Leipold has already had quite an impact for the Jayhawks (5-0, 2-0 Big 12), who have matched their win total of the past three seasons combined and are now ranked for the first time since 2009. TCU (4-0, 1-0), with first-year coach Sonny Dykes, is coming of a 31-point home win over the Sooners.

This is matchup of two of the Big 12's most efficient quarterbacks: Jalon Daniels for Kansas and TCU's Max Duggan, who returned to the starting role after Chandler Morris got hurt in the season opener. Daniels and Duggan have 11 touchdowns each, and only one interception among them (Daniels).

Iowa State's Big 12-best defense against Kansas State's Adrian Martinez and Deuce Vaughn, the conference leader at 127.6 yards rushing per game. Dual threat quarterback Martinez has run 33 times for 319 yards and seven touchdowns, while completing 33 of 53 passes for 350 yards with two TDs and no interceptions as the 20th-ranked Wildcats won their first two Big 12 games. The Cyclones allow only 255.4 total yards and 14.4 points a game.

Texas Tech is playing its fifth consecutive Top 25 opponent to match the longest streak in school history (2012). The Red Raiders have split the first two. According to STATS, they are the first team since Ohio State in 1995 to play five ranked opponents in their first six games. ... The Big 12's 11.3 scoring margin in conference games is the smallest of the Power Five leagues. ... Iowa State's Colby Reeder and Kansas State's Daniel Green are the only Big 12 linebackers with two interceptions.

Oklahoma State LB Mason Cobb is the team's leading tackler with 30 overall (18 solo, 12 assists) and is the Big 12 leader with 1.8 tackles for loss a game. He also had a big play for the seventh-ranked Cowboys in their 36-25 win at Baylor last weekend, when he stopped running back Richard Reese for no gain from the Cowboys 7 when they had a 9-3 lead about midway through the third quarter.

Texas and Oklahoma play for the 118th time Saturday, and this will be their first meeting since 1998 with neither team ranked. The Sooners had been ranked in 21 of the 24 games since, with Texas ranked 19 times. The future SEC teams each have 931 all-time wins; only Michigan (981), Alabama (947) and Ohio State (947) have more. The Sooners' all-time record is 931-333-53 since its first season in 1895; Texas played its first game two years before that and is 931-387-33.

Some things to watch in Week 6 of the Big 12 season:GAME OF THE WEEKNo. 17 TCU at No. 19 Kansas. An unexpected matchup of undefeated teams on the second Saturday in October when the Big 12 is usually focused on the Red River rivalry. Even ESPN's “College GameDay” is going to be on location in Lawrence, Kansas, not at the State Fair of Texas for Texas-Oklahoma.Second-year Kansas coach Lance Leipold has already had quite an impact for the Jayhawks (5-0, 2-0 Big 12), who have matched their win total of the past three seasons combined and are now ranked for the first time since 2009. TCU (4-0, 1-0), with first-year coach Sonny Dykes, is coming of a 31-point home win over the Sooners.This is matchup of two of the Big 12's most efficient quarterbacks: Jalon Daniels for Kansas and TCU's Max Duggan, who returned to the starting role after Chandler Morris got hurt in the season opener. Daniels and Duggan have 11 touchdowns each, and only one interception among them (Daniels).BEST MATCHUPIowa State's Big 12-best defense against Kansas State's Adrian Martinez and Deuce Vaughn, the conference leader at 127.6 yards rushing per game. Dual threat quarterback Martinez has run 33 times for 319 yards and seven touchdowns, while completing 33 of 53 passes for 350 yards with two TDs and no interceptions as the 20th-ranked Wildcats won their first two Big 12 games. The Cyclones allow only 255.4 total yards and 14.4 points a game.INSIDE THE NUMBERSTexas Tech is playing its fifth consecutive Top 25 opponent to match the longest streak in school history (2012). The Red Raiders have split the first two. According to STATS, they are the first team since Ohio State in 1995 to play five ranked opponents in their first six games. ... The Big 12's 11.3 scoring margin in conference games is the smallest of the Power Five leagues. ... Iowa State's Colby Reeder and Kansas State's Daniel Green are the only Big 12 linebackers with two interceptions.PLAYER TO WATCHOklahoma State LB Mason Cobb is the team's leading tackler with 30 overall (18 solo, 12 assists) and is the Big 12 leader with 1.8 tackles for loss a game. He also had a big play for the seventh-ranked Cowboys in their 36-25 win at Baylor last weekend, when he stopped running back Richard Reese for no gain from the Cowboys 7 when they had a 9-3 lead about midway through the third quarter.UNUSUALLY UNRANKEDTexas and Oklahoma play for the 118th time Saturday, and this will be their first meeting since 1998 with neither team ranked. The Sooners had been ranked in 21 of the 24 games since, with Texas ranked 19 times. The future SEC teams each have 931 all-time wins; only Michigan (981), Alabama (947) and Ohio State (947) have more. The Sooners' all-time record is 931-333-53 since its first season in 1895; Texas played its first game two years before that and is 931-387-33.

Big 12's October oddity: TCU-Kansas trumps Red River rivalry

x-New York	99	63	.611	_	_	5-5	L-2	57-24	42-39

y-Toronto	92	70	.568	7	+6	7-3	W-1	47-34	45-36

y-Tampa Bay	86	76	.531	13	_	2-8	L-5	51-30	35-46

Baltimore	83	79	.512	16	3	4-6	L-1	45-36	38-43

Boston	78	84	.481	21	8	6-4	W-3	43-38	35-46

x-Cleveland	92	70	.568	_	_	7-3	W-2	46-35	46-35

Chicago	81	81	.500	11	5	5-5	L-1	37-44	44-37

Minnesota	78	84	.481	14	8	4-6	W-1	46-35	32-49

Detroit	66	96	.407	26	20	6-4	L-3	36-46	30-50

Kansas City	65	97	.401	27	21	3-7	L-2	39-42	26-55

x-Houston	106	56	.654	_	_	7-3	W-2	55-26	51-30

y-Seattle	90	72	.556	16	+4	7-3	W-3	46-35	44-37

Los Angeles	73	89	.451	33	13	7-3	L-3	40-41	33-48

Texas	68	94	.420	38	18	3-7	W-2	34-47	34-47

Oakland	60	102	.370	46	26	4-6	W-4	29-51	31-51

x-Atlanta	101	61	.623	_	_	7-3	L-1	55-26	46-35

y-New York	101	61	.623	_	+14	5-5	W-3	54-27	47-34

y-Philadelphia	87	75	.537	14	_	4-6	L-2	47-34	40-41

Miami	69	93	.426	32	18	6-4	W-1	34-47	35-46

Washington	55	107	.340	46	32	2-8	L-5	26-55	29-52

x-St. Louis	93	69	.574	_	_	4-6	L-1	53-28	40-41

Milwaukee	86	76	.531	7	1	4-6	L-1	46-35	40-41

Chicago	74	88	.457	19	13	8-2	W-1	37-44	37-44

Cincinnati	62	100	.383	31	25	3-7	L-1	33-48	29-52

Pittsburgh	62	100	.383	31	25	6-4	W-1	34-47	28-53

x-Los Angeles	111	51	.685	_	_	6-4	W-1	57-24	54-27

y-San Diego	89	73	.549	22	+2	5-5	L-1	44-37	45-36

San Francisco	81	81	.500	30	6	7-3	W-1	44-37	37-44

Arizona	74	88	.457	37	13	4-6	W-1	40-41	34-47

Colorado	68	94	.420	43	19	3-7	L-1	41-40	27-54

AMERICAN LEAGUEEast DivisionW	L	Pct	GB	WCGB	L10	Str	Home	Awayx-New York	99	63	.611	_	_	5-5	L-2	57-24	42-39y-Toronto	92	70	.568	7	+6	7-3	W-1	47-34	45-36y-Tampa Bay	86	76	.531	13	_	2-8	L-5	51-30	35-46Baltimore	83	79	.512	16	3	4-6	L-1	45-36	38-43Boston	78	84	.481	21	8	6-4	W-3	43-38	35-46Central DivisionW	L	Pct	GB	WCGB	L10	Str	Home	Awayx-Cleveland	92	70	.568	_	_	7-3	W-2	46-35	46-35Chicago	81	81	.500	11	5	5-5	L-1	37-44	44-37Minnesota	78	84	.481	14	8	4-6	W-1	46-35	32-49Detroit	66	96	.407	26	20	6-4	L-3	36-46	30-50Kansas City	65	97	.401	27	21	3-7	L-2	39-42	26-55West DivisionW	L	Pct	GB	WCGB	L10	Str	Home	Awayx-Houston	106	56	.654	_	_	7-3	W-2	55-26	51-30y-Seattle	90	72	.556	16	+4	7-3	W-3	46-35	44-37Los Angeles	73	89	.451	33	13	7-3	L-3	40-41	33-48Texas	68	94	.420	38	18	3-7	W-2	34-47	34-47Oakland	60	102	.370	46	26	4-6	W-4	29-51	31-51___NATIONAL LEAGUEEast DivisionW	L	Pct	GB	WCGB	L10	Str	Home	Awayx-Atlanta	101	61	.623	_	_	7-3	L-1	55-26	46-35y-New York	101	61	.623	_	+14	5-5	W-3	54-27	47-34y-Philadelphia	87	75	.537	14	_	4-6	L-2	47-34	40-41Miami	69	93	.426	32	18	6-4	W-1	34-47	35-46Washington	55	107	.340	46	32	2-8	L-5	26-55	29-52Central DivisionW	L	Pct	GB	WCGB	L10	Str	Home	Awayx-St. Louis	93	69	.574	_	_	4-6	L-1	53-28	40-41Milwaukee	86	76	.531	7	1	4-6	L-1	46-35	40-41Chicago	74	88	.457	19	13	8-2	W-1	37-44	37-44Cincinnati	62	100	.383	31	25	3-7	L-1	33-48	29-52Pittsburgh	62	100	.383	31	25	6-4	W-1	34-47	28-53West DivisionW	L	Pct	GB	WCGB	L10	Str	Home	Awayx-Los Angeles	111	51	.685	_	_	6-4	W-1	57-24	54-27y-San Diego	89	73	.549	22	+2	5-5	L-1	44-37	45-36San Francisco	81	81	.500	30	6	7-3	W-1	44-37	37-44Arizona	74	88	.457	37	13	4-6	W-1	40-41	34-47Colorado	68	94	.420	43	19	3-7	L-1	41-40	27-54x-clinched divisiony-clinched wild card

Final MLB Standings

The 12th ranked Barton Community College women's soccer team was unable to overcome an early deficit Wednesday evening falling 2-0 on the road to 19th ranked Hutchinson Community College.

The loss halts the Cougars' eight game winning streak falling to 7-1 in Jayhawk West play and 11-2 on the season while the victory moves the Blue Dragons into a first place tie with Barton at 7-2 in league play and 10-2 overall. The teams will meet again on October 22 to close out the season in a 1:00 p.m. kick on the Cougars' home turf.

Barton will look to get back on track Saturday as they host Dodge City Community College in a 3:00 p.m. kickoff from the Cougar Soccer Complex.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665066953077.jpeg" alt="Read more at bartonsports.com" />
 <figcaption>Read more at bartonsports.com</figcaption>
 </figure>The 12th ranked Barton Community College women's soccer team was unable to overcome an early deficit Wednesday evening falling 2-0 on the road to 19th ranked Hutchinson Community College.The loss halts the Cougars' eight game winning streak falling to 7-1 in Jayhawk West play and 11-2 on the season while the victory moves the Blue Dragons into a first place tie with Barton at 7-2 in league play and 10-2 overall. The teams will meet again on October 22 to close out the season in a 1:00 p.m. kick on the Cougars' home turf.Barton will look to get back on track Saturday as they host Dodge City Community College in a 3:00 p.m. kickoff from the Cougar Soccer Complex.

12th ranked Cougars drop West first round battle at 19th ranked Hutch

LAWRENCE, Kan. – It will be a weekend to remember on The Hill starting Thursday as ESPN’s College GameDay will roll into town for the first time ever to set up the matchup between No. 19 Kansas vs. No. 17 TCU in front of a third-straight sold-out crowd at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

The flagship college football show will set up shop on The Hill, northeast of the Campanile with the stage facing southwest.

The festivities officially begin Thursday at 2 p.m., when the Home Depot Bus pulls into town on the south end of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Kansas fans are encouraged to be there Thursday afternoon to greet the GameDay bus and welcome it to Lawrence.

The stage will be setup all day Friday with television segments being filmed beginning at 6:45 a.m.

Pat McAfee will host his show live on set at 12 p.m., for an hour with fans welcome to attend. ESPN’s College Football Live will then be broadcast live at 2 p.m., with Jen Lada, Desmond Howard and David Pollack.

Following the 30-minute show, fans are encouraged to head to the bottom of the hill to send off the football team as the Jayhawks depart for their team hotel Friday afternoon.

On Saturday, GameDay will take over as the primary attraction on The Hill with the “pit” opening for fans at 6 a.m. The following items are not permitted in the pit: Bags (of any kind), food and drinks, pens, pencils, markers or dry erase boards and signs on sticks. Those rules pertain only to the pit, not the general fan area.

Parking lots will open at 6 a.m. for those with valid football parking passes in the tailgating lots around David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

Those without valid football parking permits should plan to park on the south side of campus or in the two downtown parking garages (8th and Vermont and 6th and New Hampshire) and take the football shuttle to the stadium. The shuttle stops on campus are lot 72 (Burge Union) and lot 34 (Price Computing Center), and for this game, will begin running at 6 a.m.

The shuttle will make return trips from the stadium to the south side of campus and downtown after kickoff.

Parking is available on campus without a permit in lots 90, 125, 127, 70, 71, and the Central District parking garage. All parking near the stadium will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning Friday evening and overnight.

Admission into College GameDay is free, and no tickets are required.

Leading up to College GameDay, there will be live SportsCenter segments on set at 6:45 a.m., and 7:30 a.m.

College GameDay will then go live at 8 a.m., and will broadcast until 11 a.m. Fans are encouraged to make signs to hold up in the crowd during the broadcast. GameDay does not allow vulgar signs, .com, .net, .org, political or religious signs. All signs brought to the taping will be inspected before entry and must abide by College GameDay’s sign policies.

The show will be set on The Hill for the first two-plus hours, before moving inside to Memorial Stadium for the final few segments, leading into KU’s game with TCU, set for 11 a.m., on FS1.

Fans are encouraged to download their game tickets prior to arriving at the stadium to expedite the entry process. Additionally, with portions of K-10 and 23rd street undergoing construction, fans are encouraged to arrive early to avoid delays and seek alternate routes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/10/1665071698957.jpeg" alt="Kansas Athletics" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Athletics</figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE, Kan. – It will be a weekend to remember on The Hill starting Thursday as ESPN’s College GameDay will roll into town for the first time ever to set up the matchup between No. 19 Kansas vs. No. 17 TCU in front of a third-straight sold-out crowd at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.The flagship college football show will set up shop on The Hill, northeast of the Campanile with the stage facing southwest.The festivities officially begin Thursday at 2 p.m., when the Home Depot Bus pulls into town on the south end of David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Kansas fans are encouraged to be there Thursday afternoon to greet the GameDay bus and welcome it to Lawrence.The stage will be setup all day Friday with television segments being filmed beginning at 6:45 a.m.Pat McAfee will host his show live on set at 12 p.m., for an hour with fans welcome to attend. ESPN’s College Football Live will then be broadcast live at 2 p.m., with Jen Lada, Desmond Howard and David Pollack.Following the 30-minute show, fans are encouraged to head to the bottom of the hill to send off the football team as the Jayhawks depart for their team hotel Friday afternoon.On Saturday, GameDay will take over as the primary attraction on The Hill with the “pit” opening for fans at 6 a.m. The following items are not permitted in the pit: Bags (of any kind), food and drinks, pens, pencils, markers or dry erase boards and signs on sticks. Those rules pertain only to the pit, not the general fan area.Parking lots will open at 6 a.m. for those with valid football parking passes in the tailgating lots around David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.Those without valid football parking permits should plan to park on the south side of campus or in the two downtown parking garages (8th and Vermont and 6th and New Hampshire) and take the football shuttle to the stadium. The shuttle stops on campus are lot 72 (Burge Union) and lot 34 (Price Computing Center), and for this game, will begin running at 6 a.m.The shuttle will make return trips from the stadium to the south side of campus and downtown after kickoff.Parking is available on campus without a permit in lots 90, 125, 127, 70, 71, and the Central District parking garage. All parking near the stadium will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning Friday evening and overnight.Admission into College GameDay is free, and no tickets are required.Leading up to College GameDay, there will be live SportsCenter segments on set at 6:45 a.m., and 7:30 a.m.College GameDay will then go live at 8 a.m., and will broadcast until 11 a.m. Fans are encouraged to make signs to hold up in the crowd during the broadcast. GameDay does not allow vulgar signs, .com, .net, .org, political or religious signs. All signs brought to the taping will be inspected before entry and must abide by College GameDay’s sign policies.The show will be set on The Hill for the first two-plus hours, before moving inside to Memorial Stadium for the final few segments, leading into KU’s game with TCU, set for 11 a.m., on FS1.Fans are encouraged to download their game tickets prior to arriving at the stadium to expedite the entry process. Additionally, with portions of K-10 and 23rd street undergoing construction, fans are encouraged to arrive early to avoid delays and seek alternate routes.

College Game Day invades Lawrence

UNDATED (AP) — The same template has been used to build Iowa State and Kansas State, and both have earned reputations for rising up and challenging the Big 12 football hierarchy.

Two years after the Cyclones (3-2, 0-2) reached the conference championship game for the first time, 20th-ranked K-State (4-1, 2-0) is looking to make a run of its own.

The Wildcats' next step is a visit to Ames, Iowa, on Saturday night for the 106th renewal of “Farmageddon," an appropriate nickname for a series between a couple of hard-working programs from agricultural states.

“It's not the easiest place to win in Manhattan. It’s not the easiest place sometimes to win in Ames,” K-State coach Chris Klieman said. “And you have to have the right kind of guys, and you have to have guys that believe in what you’re doing and believe in each other and believe in the culture.”

Over the last five years, according to 247Sports, Kansas State has signed one four-star recruit and Iowa State has signed six. Texas and Oklahoma, meanwhile, have combined for 13 five-stars and 146 four-stars.

While Iowa State and K-State are fixtures in the bottom half of the annual Big 12 recruiting rankings, both are in the top half for number of conference wins since 2019.

The current Wildcats' offense is built around Adrian Martinez and Deuce Vaughn, who have combined for more than 1,100 yards rushing. Martinez was a four-star recruit who signed with Nebraska in 2018 and the Cornhuskers' starter for four losing seasons before he transferred. Vaughn, the 11th-ranked three-star in the Wildcats' 2020 recruiting class, is the Big's leading rusher.

“It’s not always the five-star kids,” said Klieman, who has won three of four games against Oklahoma since he took over in 2019. “It’s the kids that want to play their tail off for their school and for their brother.”

Iowa State has a four-star recruit in quarterback Hunter Dekkers. His favorite target, Xavier Hutchinson, was a three-star who has been a top-three Big 12 receiver for three years since transferring from a junior college. Defensive end Will McDonald, who could have declared for the NFL draft after last season, was a three-star who is only the fourth Big 12 player to record at least 30 sacks.

“Investment in kids, attitude and effort, belief and process, I think those are all things that we worked really hard to build,” Cyclones coach Matt Campbell said. "When you watch their team, those are the things that jump out to you. So yeah, I think a lot of parallels in terms of how the infrastructure of the programs were built.”

The Cyclones are dinged up at running back. Starter Jirehl Brock was hurt on the fourth play from scrimmage at Kansas last week, and Cartevious Norton has been out since the opener.

Deon Silas or Eli Sanders would be in line for his first start if Brock can't play. Silas carried 12 times for 29 yards and caught four passes for short gains in the 14-11 loss.

“Deon Silas played the best game of his career,” Campbell said. “Really proud of what he did and certainly what he can continue to do for us."

K-State's 1.8-to-1 turnover margin is second-best in the nation, with eight of its 11 takeaways coming against Missouri and Texas Tech.

“That's a big recipe for success when the wins and losses happen, us finding ways even though we’re giving up too many explosive plays,” Klieman said.

K-State has allowed seven runs of 20 yards or longer, most in the Big 12, and three passes of at least 50 yards, tied for most in the conference.

Martinez, with a combined 319 rushing yards against Oklahoma and Texas Tech the last two weeks, joined Louisville's Lamar Jackson and Auburn's Cam Newton as the only Power Five quarterbacks the last 15 years with 300 yards and seven touchdowns over consecutive games.

K-State has recorded 10 or more tackles for loss in three of its first five games for the first time since 2012. The Wildcats have 37 and are on pace to surpass the 90 TFLs they had last season. Star defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah leads the team with seven.

Iowa State and K-State have played every year since 1917, with the Cyclones leading the series 52-49-4. ISU will try to beat the Wildcats a third straight time.

UNDATED (AP) — The same template has been used to build Iowa State and Kansas State, and both have earned reputations for rising up and challenging the Big 12 football hierarchy.Two years after the Cyclones (3-2, 0-2) reached the conference championship game for the first time, 20th-ranked K-State (4-1, 2-0) is looking to make a run of its own.The Wildcats' next step is a visit to Ames, Iowa, on Saturday night for the 106th renewal of “Farmageddon," an appropriate nickname for a series between a couple of hard-working programs from agricultural states.“It's not the easiest place to win in Manhattan. It’s not the easiest place sometimes to win in Ames,” K-State coach Chris Klieman said. “And you have to have the right kind of guys, and you have to have guys that believe in what you’re doing and believe in each other and believe in the culture.”Over the last five years, according to 247Sports, Kansas State has signed one four-star recruit and Iowa State has signed six. Texas and Oklahoma, meanwhile, have combined for 13 five-stars and 146 four-stars.While Iowa State and K-State are fixtures in the bottom half of the annual Big 12 recruiting rankings, both are in the top half for number of conference wins since 2019.The current Wildcats' offense is built around Adrian Martinez and Deuce Vaughn, who have combined for more than 1,100 yards rushing. Martinez was a four-star recruit who signed with Nebraska in 2018 and the Cornhuskers' starter for four losing seasons before he transferred. Vaughn, the 11th-ranked three-star in the Wildcats' 2020 recruiting class, is the Big's leading rusher.“It’s not always the five-star kids,” said Klieman, who has won three of four games against Oklahoma since he took over in 2019. “It’s the kids that want to play their tail off for their school and for their brother.”Iowa State has a four-star recruit in quarterback Hunter Dekkers. His favorite target, Xavier Hutchinson, was a three-star who has been a top-three Big 12 receiver for three years since transferring from a junior college. Defensive end Will McDonald, who could have declared for the NFL draft after last season, was a three-star who is only the fourth Big 12 player to record at least 30 sacks.“Investment in kids, attitude and effort, belief and process, I think those are all things that we worked really hard to build,” Cyclones coach Matt Campbell said. "When you watch their team, those are the things that jump out to you. So yeah, I think a lot of parallels in terms of how the infrastructure of the programs were built.”RUNNING BACK SHORTAGEThe Cyclones are dinged up at running back. Starter Jirehl Brock was hurt on the fourth play from scrimmage at Kansas last week, and Cartevious Norton has been out since the opener.Deon Silas or Eli Sanders would be in line for his first start if Brock can't play. Silas carried 12 times for 29 yards and caught four passes for short gains in the 14-11 loss.“Deon Silas played the best game of his career,” Campbell said. “Really proud of what he did and certainly what he can continue to do for us."TURNOVERS, BIG PLAYSK-State's 1.8-to-1 turnover margin is second-best in the nation, with eight of its 11 takeaways coming against Missouri and Texas Tech.“That's a big recipe for success when the wins and losses happen, us finding ways even though we’re giving up too many explosive plays,” Klieman said.K-State has allowed seven runs of 20 yards or longer, most in the Big 12, and three passes of at least 50 yards, tied for most in the conference.MAGNIFICENT MARTINEZMartinez, with a combined 319 rushing yards against Oklahoma and Texas Tech the last two weeks, joined Louisville's Lamar Jackson and Auburn's Cam Newton as the only Power Five quarterbacks the last 15 years with 300 yards and seven touchdowns over consecutive games.BEHIND THE LINEK-State has recorded 10 or more tackles for loss in three of its first five games for the first time since 2012. The Wildcats have 37 and are on pace to surpass the 90 TFLs they had last season. Star defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah leads the team with seven.FAMILIAR FOESIowa State and K-State have played every year since 1917, with the Cyclones leading the series 52-49-4. ISU will try to beat the Wildcats a third straight time.

No. 20 K-State, Iowa St see lot of each other in themselves

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred were fired by the Kansas Cty Royals on Wednesday night, shortly after the struggling franchise finished the season 65-97 with a listless 9-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians.

The Royals had exercised their option on Matheny's contract for 2023 during spring training, when the club hoped it was turning the corner from also-ran to contender. But plagued by poor pitching, struggles from young position players and a lackluster group of veterans, the Royals were largely out of playoff contention by the middle of summer.

The disappointing on-field product led owner John Sherman last month to fire longtime front office executive Dayton Moore, the architect of back-to-back American League champions and the 2015 World Series title team. He was replaced by one of his longtime understudies, J.J. Picollo, who made the decision to fire Matheny hours after the season ended.

"Managing the Royals has been a true privilege,” Matheny said in a statement. “I’m thankful to so many, primarily Dayton Moore, and the coaches and players I’ve worked with. I would like to thank Mr. John Sherman and the ownership group for the opportunity to manage their team, and everyone involved in this great organization.

"I came to the Royals knowing it was an organization of excellence and care, and was shown that care every single day. Royals fans should be excited about this group of players, and I look forward to watching them continue to grow.”

Matheny spent parts of seven seasons managing the St. Louis Cardinals, finishing each with a winning record and winning the National League pennant in 2013. But after his firing midway through 2018, he was hired by the Royals in an advisory role, and then tapped to succeed longtime manager Ned Yost when he retired before the 2020 season.

Put in charge of a rebuild in the works, Matheny went 26-34 during a COVID-19-shortened first season, then appeared to show progress last season, when the Royals ushered forward a slew of young prospects and finished 74-88.

The expectation was another step forward this season, but the Royals instead spent September fighting off 100 losses.

Matheny finished 165-219 during his time with the Royals, though the number that perhaps is more important to the future of the club is 29 — the number of players that made their Major League debut during his tenure.

"We are grateful to Mike for leading us through some unusual times these last three seasons,” Picollo said in a statement. “He met those challenges head on and helped us move forward in a positive manner. We thank him for his leadership and know his influence will have a positive impact moving forward.”

Matheny became the fifth big league manager to be fired this year.

Philadelphia's Joe Girardi was replaced on June 3 by Rob Thomson, who engineered a miraculous turnaround to get the Phillies into the playoffs. The Angels replaced Joe Maddon with Phil Nevin four days later, Toronto's Charlie Montoyo was succeeded by John Schneider on July 13 and the Rangers' Chris Woodward by Tony Beasley on Aug. 15.

Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa left the team on Aug. 30 for medical tests and said Monday he will not return for 2023.

In addition, Miami's Don Mattingly said late last month that he will not return next season.

While he was well-liked in the Kansas City clubhouse, it seemed unlikely Matheny would be granted another season when Moore was fired last month. Sherman indicated at the time the change in the leadership of the baseball operations department was only the start of what was expected to be widespread shifts throughout the organization.

The Royals have struggled for years to develop pitching — they had the fourth-worst ERA and the worst WHIP by far of any staff in the majors this season. And the continued struggles by their latest wave of young arms was a big reason for letting go of Eldred, the pitching coach since 2018.

“The bottom line here is it's time for change,” Sherman said last month. “There is a gap right now between where we are and where we expected to be. ... I felt like in 2021 we did make progress, and in 2022, that's not how I feel. There have been some bright spots — I love seeing the young players — but in 2022, we are not where we expected to be.”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred were fired by the Kansas Cty Royals on Wednesday night, shortly after the struggling franchise finished the season 65-97 with a listless 9-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians.The Royals had exercised their option on Matheny's contract for 2023 during spring training, when the club hoped it was turning the corner from also-ran to contender. But plagued by poor pitching, struggles from young position players and a lackluster group of veterans, the Royals were largely out of playoff contention by the middle of summer.The disappointing on-field product led owner John Sherman last month to fire longtime front office executive Dayton Moore, the architect of back-to-back American League champions and the 2015 World Series title team. He was replaced by one of his longtime understudies, J.J. Picollo, who made the decision to fire Matheny hours after the season ended."Managing the Royals has been a true privilege,” Matheny said in a statement. “I’m thankful to so many, primarily Dayton Moore, and the coaches and players I’ve worked with. I would like to thank Mr. John Sherman and the ownership group for the opportunity to manage their team, and everyone involved in this great organization."I came to the Royals knowing it was an organization of excellence and care, and was shown that care every single day. Royals fans should be excited about this group of players, and I look forward to watching them continue to grow.”Matheny spent parts of seven seasons managing the St. Louis Cardinals, finishing each with a winning record and winning the National League pennant in 2013. But after his firing midway through 2018, he was hired by the Royals in an advisory role, and then tapped to succeed longtime manager Ned Yost when he retired before the 2020 season.Put in charge of a rebuild in the works, Matheny went 26-34 during a COVID-19-shortened first season, then appeared to show progress last season, when the Royals ushered forward a slew of young prospects and finished 74-88.The expectation was another step forward this season, but the Royals instead spent September fighting off 100 losses.Matheny finished 165-219 during his time with the Royals, though the number that perhaps is more important to the future of the club is 29 — the number of players that made their Major League debut during his tenure."We are grateful to Mike for leading us through some unusual times these last three seasons,” Picollo said in a statement. “He met those challenges head on and helped us move forward in a positive manner. We thank him for his leadership and know his influence will have a positive impact moving forward.”Matheny became the fifth big league manager to be fired this year.Philadelphia's Joe Girardi was replaced on June 3 by Rob Thomson, who engineered a miraculous turnaround to get the Phillies into the playoffs. The Angels replaced Joe Maddon with Phil Nevin four days later, Toronto's Charlie Montoyo was succeeded by John Schneider on July 13 and the Rangers' Chris Woodward by Tony Beasley on Aug. 15.Chicago White Sox manager Tony La Russa left the team on Aug. 30 for medical tests and said Monday he will not return for 2023.In addition, Miami's Don Mattingly said late last month that he will not return next season.While he was well-liked in the Kansas City clubhouse, it seemed unlikely Matheny would be granted another season when Moore was fired last month. Sherman indicated at the time the change in the leadership of the baseball operations department was only the start of what was expected to be widespread shifts throughout the organization.The Royals have struggled for years to develop pitching — they had the fourth-worst ERA and the worst WHIP by far of any staff in the majors this season. And the continued struggles by their latest wave of young arms was a big reason for letting go of Eldred, the pitching coach since 2018.“The bottom line here is it's time for change,” Sherman said last month. “There is a gap right now between where we are and where we expected to be. ... I felt like in 2021 we did make progress, and in 2022, that's not how I feel. There have been some bright spots — I love seeing the young players — but in 2022, we are not where we expected to be.”

Royals fire manager Mike Matheny after 65-97 end to season

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramirez drove in two runs and had four hits, Aaron Civale pitched six solid innings and the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Kansas City Royals 9-2 on Wednesday in their final tune-up for the postseason.

Hours after the game, the Royals fired manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred.

Cleveland opens the wild-card round against Tampa Bay on Friday at Progressive Field.

The AL Central champions are 24-6 since Sept. 5 and finished the regular season 92-70. The youngest team in baseball had 17 players make their major league debuts this season. Cleveland finished 80-82 last season.

CLEVELAND (AP) — José Ramirez drove in two runs and had four hits, Aaron Civale pitched six solid innings and the Cleveland Guardians defeated the Kansas City Royals 9-2 on Wednesday in their final tune-up for the postseason.Hours after the game, the Royals fired manager Mike Matheny and pitching coach Cal Eldred.Cleveland opens the wild-card round against Tampa Bay on Friday at Progressive Field.The AL Central champions are 24-6 since Sept. 5 and finished the regular season 92-70. The youngest team in baseball had 17 players make their major league debuts this season. Cleveland finished 80-82 last season.Ramirez had run-scoring singles in the second and sixth, and ends the regular season with 126 RBIs. Ramirez doubled in the eighth and received a loud ovation from the 12,983 fans when he was removed for a pinch-runner.The fact Ramirez hustled into second for a double in his final at-bat of the regular season with his team ahead by six runs came as no surprise.“He’s the heart and soul of the team and everyone would tell you that same thing,” Civale said. “There’s a lot of pieces involved, but he is that supreme piece. It’s extremely fun to watch. It’s great that we get to do it from the same dugout and not across the way.”Rookie Steven Kwan ended the regular season batting .298. His chance to hit .300 ended when he was hit by a pitch in the seventh.“I thought it was fitting that Josey finished on a hustle double and Kwan, who’s trying to hit .300, alerts the umpire that he gets hit because he’s playing the game,” manager Terry Francona said “That, to me, means we’re going in a good direction. ”Civale (5-6) struck out nine and is 3-0 since returning from his third stint on the injured list. The right-hander gave up solo homers to Vinnie Pasquantino and Kyle Isbel. Civale will be Cleveland’s starter in Game 1 of the AL Division Series, if the wild-card round goes three games.Kansas City starter Jonathan Heasley (4-10) allowed six runs and nine hits in five innings.Kansas City (65-97) finished last in the AL Central. The Royals were 74-88 last season. Kansas City hasn’t reached the postseason since winning the World Series in 2015.Five players drove in runs for the Guardians. Josh Naylor had three RBIs, including a two-run single when the Guardians scored four times in the first. Myles Straw had a sacrifice fly in the second and an RBI single in the seventh.Rookie Will Brennan and Luke Maile also had RBIs in the first.“I gave up the run in the first inning and Naylor, of course, says, ‘Don’t worry, we got you’ and we put up four in the first and then one in the next, one in the next,” Civale said. “It never stops. We’ve said all year we’re never out of a game.”Pasquantino finished his rookie season with 10 home runs, while Isbel batted .308 over his final 11 games after snapping an 0-for-21 slump.“Good for both of them, getting a little reward in a long year, do a little damage,” said Matheny, who became the fifth big league manager to be fired this year.Cleveland drew 1,295,870 in 76 dates fans this season. Cleveland had an attendance of 1,738,642 fans in 2019, the last season before COVID-19 restrictions.TIME FOR THE PLAYOFFSThe last thing a postseason team needs is an injury in the final game of the regular season, but Andrés Giménez and Oscar Gonzalez caused the Guardians brief concern Wednesday.Giménez was hit by a pitch for an AL-leading 25th time this season in the fourth when he took one on the right knee. He limped out of the box, but stayed in the game after talking to manager Terry Francona and a team trainer.Gonzalez's slide into third base got the attention of Cleveland’s dugout in the first. After drawing a walk, he slid headfirst into the bag on Brennan’s single to right, but appeared to land on his nose as he slid in safely.Gonzalez stayed on the ground for a couple of moments as third base coach Mike Sarbaugh retrieved his helmet. Gonzalez slowly got to his feet and stayed in the game.TRAINER’S ROOMRoyals: C Salvador Perez (left thumb soreness) missed the final four games of the six-game series. He had surgery on his thumb earlier this season and felt soreness during Saturday’s game when he went 4 for 4. Perez homered in his final at-bat Saturday for his 1,274th career hit, passing Billy Butler for eighth place on the Royals’ all-time list.UP NEXTRoyals: Kansas City plays Texas on Feb. 24 in the spring training opener.Guardians: RHP Shane Bieber (13-8, 2.88 ERA) will start Friday’s series opener. He reached the 200-inning mark in his final regular-season start against Kansas City on Sunday. Bieber hasn’t lost since Sept. 1 and is 5-0 over his last six starts. His only postseason start came in 2020, when he won the AL Cy Young Award, but was the losing pitcher in Game 1 of the Division Series against the New York Yankees. Bieber allowed seven runs and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings.